- Caesars Sportsbook will service as the title sponsor for the Michigan Cornhole League (MCL) for the upcoming Spring 2022 season.
- DraftKings signed a deal in early 2021 to become ‘Official Sports Betting Partner’ of the American Cornhole League.
- Cornhole has enjoyed significant growth in popularity over the past decade.
Unbeknownst to many in the general population, cornhole has become a seriously popular activity over the past decade. It’s a niche sport similar to horseshoes in which players take turns throwing 16 ounce beanbags at a raised board with a hole in the far end. It’s been ubiquitous at cookouts and college town bars for awhile now and has grown to the point where it has its own sanctioning bodies at the state and national level. It’s also provided another opportunity for sportsbooks to sign on as sponsors. Case in point–Ceasars Sportsbook has just announced that it will serve as the title sponsor of the Michigan Cornhole League (MCL) for the upcoming Spring 2022 season.
This isn’t the first time a sportsbook has signed on in a promotional deal with a cornhole organization. In March 2021, DraftKings signed a deal with the American Cornhole League to become the ‘Official Sports Betting Partner’ of the organization. At the time the deal was announced, Ezra Kucharz, CBO at Draft Kings, used the popularity of niche sports during the COVID-19 pandemic to explain the rationale of cornhole as a betting sport:
“As we’ve learned in the past year, fandom is not limited solely to mainstream sports, and the tremendous growth of the ACL underscores these new engagement possibilities. The popularity of cornhole has skyrocketed in general, and there is a real draw for fans to see the best in the world compete, so we’re adding yet another dimension to the enjoyment of cornhole through odds and pools.”
Caesars Sportsbook probably has a similar mindset in joining up with the Michigan Cornhole League. If nothing else, it gets them some brand recognition and PR in a state where they offer retail and mobile sports betting services. Michigan Cornhole League state director Jason Duflo is clearly pleased to have Ceasars involved as a sponsor for his organization:
“We’re excited to partner with Caesars Sportsbook to offer a new competitive statewide league format. Players can join, have a great time and compete at a level suitable to their own skills in some of Michigan’s premier venues, culminating with a state finals weekend to name a champion.”
“Cornhole is a growing sport. By now, everyone has heard of the game and many people have played it while camping, tailgating or in their own backyards. It’s a game that anyone can play, enjoy, or compete in and it’s a social sport that allows players to meet new people easily.”
The Ceasars Sportsbook branding is already prominent on the Michigan Cornhole League website:
No word if cornhole will appear on the betting board at Ceasars Sportsbook. For what it’s worth, the sport is listed among the official Sports Wagering Catalog of the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
